West Ham United boss David Moyes believes that it is good for the Premier League to have Nottingham Forest back in the top-flight of English football.
On Sunday afternoon, the Tricky Trees will play host to the Irons in what will be Steve Cooper’s side’s first Premier League match at their City Ground home since May 1999, with Forest spending 23 years outside of the top-flight before their returning 2-0 defeat away at Newcastle United a week ago.
Forest have an illustrious history in the game, albeit not too much barring their promotion in recent times. In 1978, they won the league title that led to back-to-back European Cup triumphs in the following two seasons, with Brian Clough being at the helm throughout their successful period of yesteryear.
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Moyes is delighted to see the Tricky Trees back in the Premier League after more than two decades away and believes it is good to see them in the top-flight once again, comparing them to Leeds United, who have just started their third straight season in the league after a 16-year absence.
“It’s been a great club over many, many years. Nottingham Forest’s support is fantastic,” said Moyes. I don’t think there will be any football fan certainly in the UK who wouldn’t know the name Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest.
“Half of us can probably name the team that they had in the two finals, incredible football history. It was great that we got Leeds United back in the Premier League a couple of years ago, I think it’s also great that Notts Forest are back in the division as well. My job is to try and beat them and that is what I’m concentrating on.”
Forest’s City Ground has always been associated with having a great atmosphere and home support, exhibited especially during the back end of last season’s promotion-winning campaign.
Asked if he was aiming to silence the home supporters early on, Moyes admits he enjoys atmospheres away from home and added that his players are used to grand occasions and played under noisy crowds.
“I don’t think we are trying to keep the home fans quiet, I quite enjoy it, I think everybody enjoys it,” Moyes added.
“We had a pre-season friendly against Lens in France which was an unbelievable atmosphere, so the players are all used to it now, they enjoy it. We hope it is a noisy ground and we look forward to playing there.
“I think all players at the highest level always look forward to playing in the big games and the big atmospheres, that is what they are used to it. Our players are very much used to being in a big stadium with 62,500.”
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